When he restated the promise connected with obeying the fifth commandment, Paul changed it. God promised obedient Jewish children who lived under the Mosaic Law long life in the Promised Land ( Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 5:16). Since He has not promised Christians a particular piece of land, Paul stated the more general promise that lay behind the specific promise, namely, longer physical life on earth. Normally children who obey their parents end up avoiding many perils that would shorten their lives. [source][source][source]
Context Summary
Ephesians 6:1-12 - Children And Parents Servants And Masters
Where our religion is true, it will affect every relationship in life. The love of Christ must find its manifestation in nursery and in kitchen, in workshop and in municipal chamber. But notice that its duties are reciprocal. We must give on our side, just as we expect others to give on theirs.
The first duty of children is obedience. They must be taught to obey because it is right, and their conscience bears witness to the rightness. Never plead with a child to do what is right, nor bribe it by a reward. Take your stand on that primeval sense of right and wrong, which is the foundation of morals and will be the stay of the child's whole after-life, when once its supremacy is established. But parents should help their children by removing irritation or passion from their own speech. Slaves formed a large proportion of the early Church. Their obedience must be explicit, and they were taught to believe that Christ took their faithful service to their earthly owner as service to Himself. But masters must ever deal with their servants as liable to be called to account by the great Master of all. The center of all authority is Christ, and He will demand an account of our treatment of every servant He has sent into our homes. [source]
Chapter Summary: Ephesians 6
1The duty of children toward their parents; 5of servants toward their masters 10Our life is a warfare, not only against flesh and blood, but also spiritual enemies 13The complete armor of a Christian; 18and how it ought to be used 21Tychicus is commended
Greek Commentary for Ephesians 6:3
That it may be well with thee [ινα ευ σοι γενηται] From Exodus 20:12, “that it may happen to thee well.” [source]
And thou mayest live long on the earth [και εσηι μακροχρονιος επι της γης] Here εσηι esēi (second person singular future middle) takes the place of γενηι genēi in the lxx (second person singular second aorist middle subjunctive). Μακροχρονιος Makrochronios is a late and rare compound adjective, here only in N.T. (from lxx, Ex 20:12). [source]
Thou mayest live long [ἔσῃ μακροχρόνιος] Lit., mayest be long-lived. The adjective occurs only here. [source]
Greek Commentary for Ephesians 6:3
From Exodus 20:12, “that it may happen to thee well.” [source]
Here εσηι esēi (second person singular future middle) takes the place of γενηι genēi in the lxx (second person singular second aorist middle subjunctive). Μακροχρονιος Makrochronios is a late and rare compound adjective, here only in N.T. (from lxx, Ex 20:12). [source]
Lit., mayest be long-lived. The adjective occurs only here. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Ephesians 6:3
Expanded in Ephesians 6:2, Ephesians 6:3. Unto the Lord should be in the Lord. [source]